Former Moon manager receives settlement

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Moon supervisors have approved a $97,500 settlement with former manager Greg Smith, ending a dispute that started in late 2008.

Neither party would comment on the settlement, which had been approved by supervisors in January. The terms became available in the past week.

Mr. Smith was manager for 25 years. He submitted his resignation in October 2008, only to find that when he returned from vacation he had been fired. According to his employment contract, Mr. Smith was required to give the township 120 days notice prior to leaving. Mr. Smith said that he was never given a reason for his termination and was denied severance pay.

He had filed a lawsuit for breech of contract and retaliation for launching a whistle blower investigation. He questioned solicitor Michael Santicola's simultaneous representation of individuals who had been arrested by Moon police while he was employed as legal counsel for the township.

Mr. Smith asked for $200,000 in damages and legal fees. The Township and Mr. Smith's attorney, James Carroll of Rothman Gordon of Pittsburgh, agreed on a settlement of $97,500 of which the township paid $65,000, and the township's insurance company paid the balance.

The agreement was delivered to the township in December. The board approved the agreement at its reorganization meeting in January. Previously, Mr. Smith received $33,300.75 from Moon Township for accumulated leave time.

Since his separation from Moon, Mr. Smith worked as interim Parks Director in Cranberry from May 2012 through April 2013. He also works part time as a consultant for municipalities with Public Partners. In 2011 he was Interim Manager for Beaver Borough.

In April 1999, he was named manager of the year by the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors.

Mr. Smith has not been all work since his involuntary retirement from Moon Township.

Villanova professor Craig Wheeland uses Mr. Smith's experience as Moon manager to teach courses in ethics at the University. Mr. Wheeland’s paper was recently published in the Public Integrity a journal of the American Society of Public Administration.

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